Vancouver Whitecaps FC has burst onto the Development Academy scene with a high-scoring style that has yielded positive results in the club’s first season
as an Academy team. The club overcame a tough first day at the Academy Playoffs and now has its sights set on a top spot during Finals Week in Houston.

How they got to Finals Week:
It was an uphill climb from the start for the Vancouver Whitecaps. They overcame an Academy Playoffs-opening loss to wild card qualifier Pateadores and
then posted a 4-0 victory against Weston FC and a 2-0 win against Texans SC Houston to finish atop the group for their first Finals Week appearance.
Vancouver got the nod over Weston and Pateadores based on goal differential as all three teams finished with six points in group play.

Finals Week and Academy Playoffs History:
This season marked Vancouver’s inaugural season in the Development Academy and its first trip to the Academy Playoffs after winning the Northwest Division.

2011-12 Regular Season:
Whitecaps FC edged out De Anza Force for the top spot in the Northwest Division during the regular season with a 10-2-2 record and a mark of 20-6-3
overall. The Vancouver offense scored 16 more goals than its closest follower, De Anza Force, and conceded the third-least amount of goals in the division.

About assistant technical director Craig Dalrymple:
The England native developed in the Ipswich Town academy as a youth and reserve player. Following his playing career, Dalrymple spent a decade as technical
director of the Surrey (Canada) United Soccer Club and also worked as a youth coach for England’s Portsmouth FC before returning to the Northwest. His
coaching credentials include A level license certification from UEFA, the USSF and the Canadian Soccer Association (CSA).

About Vancouver Whitecaps FC:
Whitecaps FC joined the Development Academy in 2011, the same year Vancouver joined MLS as a professional team after spending many years in the second
division. As a club, Vancouver was founded in 1974 in the North American Soccer League.

Scoring Leader in Academy Playoffs:
Ben McKendry (3)

Scoring Leader During 2011-12 Regular Season:
Caleb Clarke (24)

Inside the Numbers:
After an opening-day loss at the Academy Playoffs, Vancouver has not given up a goal in 180 minutes, outscoring opponents 6-0 during the streak … Whitecaps
FC is 2-0 against Finals Week group opponent De Anza Force, beating the Northern California-based team 3-2 both times … Vancouver’s 88 goals during the
regular season was the most in the West Conference.

Did you know …
Whitecaps FC signed Caleb Clarke as a homegrown player on April 24 and Clarke recently spent two weeks on trial with Rot-Weiss Erfurt of Germany’s third
division … Vancouver assistant coach Martin Nash is a former member of the Canada Men’s National Team and is the younger brother of NBA star Steve Nash.